Sixteen African journalists, scientists and communication experts from Europe, Africa and USA are meeting at Bellagio in Italy to develop a strategic media framework for advocacy on the experimental RTS’s malaria vaccine ahead of a policy recommendation by the World Health Organisation and other drug regulatory agencies.
The meeting is aimed at strengthening advocacy on the malaria elimination agenda to consolidate the gains made in the fight against the disease, especially in developing countries and position the continent of Africa for the malaria vaccine.
It is organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation.
The RTS’s candidate vaccine is the most clinically advanced experimental vaccine to date and it is on trial in Africa involving seven African countries – Ghana, Burkina Faso, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. Some 15,459 infants and young children have taken part in the trial.
During preliminary discussions, participants identified ineffective communication as a serious gap that tend to adversely affect malaria elimination efforts in Africa.
Professor John Lusingu, a Principal Research Scientist of the National Institute for Medical Research, Tanzania, urged journalists to partner with scientists to effect behaviourial change in communities to enable people prevent and also seek early treatment for malaria.
He urged the journalists to continue to encourage people to use current tools such as bed-nets, indoor residual spraying, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, early treatment and compliance with drug therapy to deal with the disease.
Charity Binka, the executive secretary of AMMREN, said the organisation, which draws membership from 10 African countries, is dedicated to promoting timely communication of research findings and outcomes on malaria through collaboration between scientists and journalists.
She said AMMREN had deemed it appropriate to work together with scientists to develop a media strategy to help in the malaria elimination campaign when the WHO and the other relevant authorities finally license the candidate malaria vaccine.
Ellen Sam, a clinical pharmacist at the Ghana Police Hospital in Accra, asked journalists to join the crusade to help consolidate the gains made in reducing the malaria disease burden especially in Africa, as it affects economic prosperity and social stability.
She said severe malaria also worsens other disease conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
The acting chairperson of AMMREN board, Madam Sam said malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest killers and governments would reap a huge return on investment if they increased funding towards its elimination.
She also appealed to development partners to channel more resources to the control of malaria as they do to other diseases such as HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis and lately Ebola.
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